Effect of microwaves (2450-MHz) on the immune system in mice: studies of nucleic acid and protein synthesis

CBA/J adult male mice were given single or triple exposures to 2450-mHz microwaves in an environmentally controlled wave guide facility. The average absorbed dose rate for a single exposure varied from 12 to 15 mW/g. Sham-exposed mice served as controls. Lymphoid cells were collected and tested for metabolic activity on days 3, 6, and 9 following a single exposure, and on days 9, 12, and 16 following triple exposures on days 0, 3, and 6. Cells were cultured in vitro for four hours to seven days before their metabolic rates were assayed. Under these conditions, microwaves failed to produce any detectable change in deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), ribonucleic acid (RNA), and protein synthesis, as measured by the incorporation of methyl(3H)-thymidine (3H-TDR) (DNA substrate), 3H-uridine (3H-UR) (RNA substrate), and 3H-leucine (protein substrate) by spleen, bone marrow, and peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) in vitro. These data suggest that microwave-induced increases in the frequency of complement-receptor (CR)- or surface-immunoglobulin (sIg)-bearing cells were not associated with a concomitant increase in cell proliferation and/or protein synthesis, and favor the concept that microwaves under these conditions stimulate already existing B-cell precursors for maturation.     

Hepatic and extra-hepatic glutathione-S-transferase activity in wild pigeons (Columba livia)

Glutathione-S-transferase (EC 2.5.1.18) activity was assayed in hepatic and extra-hepatic tissues of pigeons using l-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene and 1,2-dichloro-4-nitrobenzene as substrates. Gluthathione-S-transferase activity towards 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene in pigeon was in the order: kidney > liver > testes > brain > lung> heart. The enzyme activity with 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene as substrate was 40–44 times higher in pigeon liver and kidney than that observed with 1,2-dichloro-4-dinitrobenzene as substrate.K _m values of hepatic and renal glutathione transferase with l-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene as substrate were 2.5 and 3 mM respectively. Double reciprocal plots with varying reduced gluthathione concentrations resulted in biphasic curves with twoK _m values (liver 0.31 mM and 4mM; kidney 0.36 mM and 1.3 mM). The enzyme activity was inhibited by oxidized gluthathione in a dose-dependent pattern. 3-Methylcholanthrene elicited about 50% induction of hepatic glutathione transferase activity whereas phénobarbital was ineffective.     

Changes in dry weight and mineral composition of some oil producing plants over a range of salinity stresses

Using water culture technique, some experiments have been performed to investigate the effect of 60 days salinization treatments (0.0–100 meq 1⁻¹ NaCl) on dry weight and on the content of some nutrient elements (Na, K, Ca, Mg, P, N) in castor bean, sunflower and flax plants. In general the content of sodium increased progressively with the rise of salinity level. The relatively low and moderate salinization levels (20 and 40 meq I⁻¹ NaCl) resulted in a promotion rather than inhibition of the dry weight and in the content of most of the investigated elements in the different organs of the test plants. However with the rise of salinization level from 60 to 100 meq l⁻¹, the dry weight and the content of these nutrient elements were mostly reduced.     

Stoichiometry and apparent dissociation constant of the calcium-arsenazo III reaction under physiological conditions.

In vitro and in situ tests have been run to characterize the reaction of the mettalochromic indicator, arsenazo III, with calcium. Job plots as well as plots of indicator absorbance vs. [Ca2+] at different indicator concentrations show a 1:1 reaction stoichiometry. Equilibrium analysis and analysis using Adair's equation are also consistent with 1:1 complexes being formed and give estimates of 34 and 45 muM for the apparent dissociation constant. In situ tests were carried out using giant neurons from Archidoris monteryensis, a marine gastropod mollusc. Dye absorbance changes were measured during voltage clamp pulses which produced a fixed calcium influx. The dependence of absorbance change on total dye concentration is consistent with the formation of a 1:1 complex of Ca with ArIII if measurements are made during the initial period of the loading pulse, less than 300 ms, although the apparent dependency changes with longer delay in measurements from the onset of the pulse.     

Mutants of Escherichia coli defective in the degradation of guanosine 5''-triphosphate, 3''-diphosphate (pppGpp).

Summary A new class of mutants of E. coli exhibiting altered metabolism of ppGpp and pppGpp has been isolated, and mapped at a locus designated gpp, near min 83 on the genetic map. These mutants accumulate elevated levels of pppGpp during amino acid starvation or carbon source downshift, and exhibit a reduced rate of pppGpp degradation in vivo. The in vitro evidence suggests that the gpp mutants are defective in a 5-nucleotidase, which specifically hydrolyzes pppGpp to ppGpp. Certain combinations of gpp and spoT mutations are inviable. A gpp spoT double mutant, constructed by employing a leaky spoT mutation, was found to have a slower rate of pppGpp degradation than the gpp mutant alone. This result indicates that spoT also participates in pppGpp degradation. The inviability of certain gpp spoT combinations is attributed to the inability of the double mutants to degrade pppGpp. This is supported by the observation that selection for increased growth rate on the double mutant results in the recovery of relA mutations. Various effects of the gpp mutation upon the pppGpp and ppGpp pools provide additional support for a scheme in which pppGpp is the major precursor of ppGpp.     

Acute pulmonary hemodynamic effects of intravenous copper sulfate: role of alpha-adrenergic system

We investigated the acute pulmonary hemodynamic effects of intravenous copper sulfate (CuSO4) infusion and its mechanism of action in six groups of conscious sheep (total 40). After 300 mg CuSO4 alone, mean pulmonary artery pressure (Ppa) increased from 10.3 to 22.5 Torr and pulmonary artery wedge pressure (Ppaw) from 3.5 to 7.6 Torr, whereas systemic arterial pressure (Psa) increased from 95 to 102 Torr. Cardiac output (Qp) decreased from 4.7 to 3.3 l/min. Pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) and systemic vascular resistance (SVR) increased to 320 and 160% of base line, respectively. The hemodynamic changes correlated well with serum copper, which increased from a base-line value of 0.12 to 3.5 mg/dl after the CuSO4. Serum dopamine beta-hydroxylase increased from 3.2 U/l before CuSO4 injection to 5.7 after its administration, signifying activation of adrenergic nervous system. H1-histamine receptor blockade with chlorpheniramine failed to prevent the effects of CuSO4. Pretreatment with methysergide, a serotonin antagonist, partially attenuated the effects of CuSO4. Phenoxybenzamine, an alpha-adrenergic receptor blocker, and 6-hydroxydopamine, a catecholamine depleting agent, completely blocked the effects of CuSO4. beta-Adrenergic receptor blockade with propranolol enhanced the effects of CuSO4. We conclude, that, in conscious sheep, acute infusion of CuSO4 caused a marked reversible increase in PVR with a slight transient increase in SVR, and this pulmonary hypertension was produced by stimulation of the alpha-adrenergic nervous system.     

Mitochondrial degeneration after organic phosphate poisoning in prosimian primates

Summary The degenerative reaction of mitochondria to tricresylphosphate (TCP) poisoning in spinal ganglion cells of Slow Loris (Nycticebus coucang coucang) were studied with the electron microscope. In neurones of animals treated with TCP, mitochondria display various stages of alterations which confirm mitochondrial involvement in TCP poisoning. The role of degenerated mitochondria in the formation of neuronal lipofuscin is discussed. It is suggested that the lipofuscin granule is a metabolic product inherently related to mitochondrial degeneration, irrespective of the primary cause: ageing or intoxication.Fellow of the Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst on study leave from the Medical Faculty, University of SingaporeA grant from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (Gl. 28/20) is gratefully acknowledgedThe skilfull technical assistance of Mr. Tajuddin b.M. Ali, Mr. P. Gopal, Mr. R. Dungan and Mrs. C. Weinrichter is gratefully acknowledged     

A new virus disease in the housefly, Musca domestica (Diptera)

Reovirus particles were isolated from adults in laboratory colonies of the housefly, Musca domestica. These particles were spherical in outline, 57–76 nm in diameter, and were found only in hemocyte cytoplasm, where virions have been disclosed by a new technique. Virions were present in large numbers, and viral inclusion bodies were identified. The virus particles had pentagonal and hexagonal shapes resembling a simple icosahedral structure. The virus was shown to be infectious and pathogenic to adult flies through injection or by feeding them suspensions from flies that had died of the virus. Electron micrographs of midgut sections from infected flies showed that the midgut cells were packed with dark undulating threads which were not present in uninfected flies. However, no virus particles or inclusion bodies could be seen in these cells. On the basis of their association with infected flies, and the similarity to results from other studies on reoviruses and insect viruses, it is suggested that these threads are an alternative replicative form of the reovirus. When the virus suspensions from heavily infected flies were dialyzed against weak alkaline solutions, the threads showed an inner component of coiled material, 12 nm in diameter, inside an envelope with a diameter of 50–83 nm, mean 60.3 ± 7.5, composed of subunits 7–8 nm long and 7–8 nm across.     

Studies of growth and development of gametocytes in Haemoproteus columbae Kruse.

As determined by their ability to exflagellate and round up, it took the macrogametocyte and the microgametocyte of Haemoproteus columbae in pigeons 68 and 116 h, respectively, after patency to reach maturity. Pigment granules appeared in the undifferentiated gametocytes 8 h after invasion of blood. Vacuoles were observed in young gametocytes and persisted in the older forms. The growth curve of H. columbae is close to the sigmoidal curve for growth in protozoa. Multiple infection was noticed in pigeons with high levels of parasitemia, but no more than 2 gametocytes reached maturity; such multiple infections were rare in relapses. The sex ratio of the gametocytes was 1:1. Strong lateral displacement of the nuclei of infected erythrocytes was the rule; hypertrophy was negligible.